and this is the very point at issue. This is a weak answer, for the discussion concerns the servant’s act that takes place in him when an impulse against it arises in his heart, without any motive for it. Such an act cannot proceed from the servant in this state. Whatever is supposed to occur without his will would not be a voluntary act, but would be like the movement of someone trembling involuntarily. The discussion concerns voluntary action alone. Rather, the answer is to reject this supposition: if the servant does not will one of his own acts, Allah cannot will its occurrence, since, had He willed it to occur, He would have made the servant will it. Thus, if He does not make the servant will it, it is known that He has not willed it.

For this reason, Muslim scholars agree that if a person says:

“By Allah, I will do such and such, if Allah wills,”

and then does not do it, he has not broken his oath. His not doing it shows that Allah did not will it, since, had He willed it, the servant would have done it. Thus, when he does not do it, it is known that Allah did not will it.